Powder measuring dispenser



Oct. 21,1958 N. D. STUTZMAN 2,856,307

POWDER MEASURING DISPENSER I Filed April 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 21, 1958 N. D. STUTZMAN POWDER MEASURING DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 15, 1954 United States Patent POWDER MEASURING DISPENSERNoble D. Stutzman, Bakersfield, Calif. Application April 13, 1954,Serial No. 422,836

3 Claims. (Cl. 86-31) My invention relates in general to a measuringdispenser with the primary object of measuring powdered or granularmaterials such as gun powder and then discharging such certain measuredquantity of the comminuted material into a cartridge or other suitablecontainer.

An important object of my invention is to provide a measuring dispenserwith an inbuilt micrometer-type volume indicator.

A further object of my invention is provide a measuring dispenser inwhichthe volume indicator is readily adjusted and the scale markingsquickly and accurately read.

Another object of my invention is to provide a measuring dispenser whichdelivers a substantially uniform volume of powder regardless of thechanging and variable quantities of the supply powder in the mainstorage hopper.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a measuringdispenser in which horizontal rotation.

of the several component sections provide vertically superimposedchamber ports and valves through which the powder flows downward.

A further object of my invention is the Provision in a measuringdispenser of a large primary material storage hopper, a finalcalibrating measuring unit and an intermediate powder holding andtransfer chamber operable alternately in connection with the primarymaterial storage hopper and then the calibrating measuring unit.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a measuringdispenser in which, because the calibrating unit is capable ofsubstantially accurate and .minute quantitive operation, no additionalweighing on powder scale is required and thus it is possible to obtainnot only a high rate of production but also increased safety because thecartridge is not overloaded with an excessive charge of powder.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a measuringdispenser in which the small number and simplicity of operatingmovements reduces the cost and cuts the time required for an individualcartridge filling operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a powder measuringdispenser which is of sturdy construction and pleasing appearance and inwhich the parts are readily interchangeable or replaceable withoutnecessitating close fitting or delicate machine work but which requiresonly the removal and replacement of the locking device to secure thereassembled parts.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription considered in conjunction with the accompanying sheets ofdrawings or from both as supplements of each other, wherein are setforth certain novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts and functions.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of thesespecifications, and in which like numerals are employed to designatelike parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my assembled invention illustrating theoperating position in which the powdered material is being dischargedinto a cartridge or when desired some other suitable container.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a substantially sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in section illustrating therelative position of the parts during the filling of the measuringchamber.

Figure 6 is a vertical partially sectional view taken on the line 66 ofFigure 5.

Figure 7 is a view partly in plan and partly in section illustrating therelative position of the parts during the filling of both theintermediate charging chamber and the cartridge.

Figure 8 is a vertical partially sectional view taken on the line 8-8 ofFigure 7.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 wherein forpurposes of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of my inventionthe numeral 9 indicates the base or bottom section of my device which isused not only as a stationary support but also as an a method offastening together the components an assembly post 18 is secured to base9 and at the end extending through the bottom of hopper retainer 16 maybe properly tightened by adjusting nut 19 and locking washer 20. In base9 there is also provided a discharge chamber 21, into which themeasuring unit 14 empties and from which the powder flows throughdischarge port 22 into the cartridge 23 which is held securely in thecentering guide 24. A stop pin 25 is secured in base 9 and extends adistance above for use in limiting the rotary movement of the measuringunit 14, and for holding the intermediate charging block 15 in astationary position.

Extending inwardly from the surface of measuring unit 14 is provided avertical slot 26 which is closed at the circumferential opening by aremovable cover plate 27. Slidably positioned in vertical slot 26 is themovable U-shaped gauge block 28.

The inner surface 29 .of gauge block 28, by its relative distance fromthe end surface 30 of vertical slot 26 defines the actual size of thepowder measuring volume 31. To increase or decrease the volumetric sizeof powder measuring volume 31 a micrometer control knob 32 is providedwith a threaded pin 33 rotatably secured in and through cover plate 27.In micrometer control knob 32 is formed a large counterbore 34connecting with a smaller counterbore 35 in pin 33 through which extendsin a loose fit bolt 36 tightly secured to U-shaped gauge block 28 bythreaded section 37. Between the '3 head 38 of bolt 36 and the innersurface of the large counterbore 34 is located a compression spring 39which forces the end of threaded pin 33 into continuous contact with thesurface of the U-shaped gauge block 28 so that when the micrometercontrol knob 32 is moved in or out by manually activated rotation theU-shaped gauge block 28 likewise moves in and out in the same proportionthus controlling the volumetric size of the powder measuring volume 31.

The top surface 40 of the top arm of U-shaped gauge block 28 is providedwith a central guide mark 41 and numbered markings 42 at distances equalto one complete revolution of the micrometer control knob 32. Micrometercontrol knob 32 is also provided with numbered marking 58 which inconjunction with numbered markings 42 permit single or repeated gaugingand selection of an identical powder measuring volume 31 or such variedvolumetrically sized volumes as may be desired.

In the telescoping sleeve 17 a slot 13 is cut out shaped to surround andcontact the sides of cover plate 27 and the top surface of both coverplate 27 and the U-shaped gauge block 28 so that any rotary movements ofsleeve 17 are transmitted to the measuring unit 14 wherein a curvedrecess 44 in conjunction with the inner surface of telescoping sleeve 17forms an annular slot 45 which rotates around stop pin 25 untilshoulders 46 and 47 contact the sides of pin 25 thus limiting therotational movement of measuring unit 14, sleeve 17 and the partsunitarily connected with it.

Superimposed on measuring unit 14 is intermediate charging block 15which is held stationary in a fixed relative position with base 9 bymeans of stop pin 25 extending up into bore 48 of charging block 15. Thesecondary hopper or intermediate charging chamber 49 in charging block15 performs dual functions in that when in position shown in Figure 8 ithas been filled by the powdered material 59 flowing from transparentprimary hopper 50 through the discharge port 51 in hopper retainer 16,while in the position shown in Figure 6 the powder 59 has dischargedinto the powder measuring volume 31. Also in the position shown inFigure 8 the powder 59 is discharging from powder measuring voltime 31through the discharge chamber 21 and port 22 into cartridge 23.

Hopper retainer 16 is provided with a counter bore 52 to tightly securetransparent primary hopper 50 with its cover 53 which contains thepowdered material 59.

At a suitable location in hopper retainer 16 is provided a threaded bore54. Through an aperture 55 in the telescoping sleeve 17 the threadedstud 56 of operating handle 57 is securely fastened in threaded bore 54thus tying primary hopper 50, hopper retainer 16, telescoping sleeve 17and measuring unit 14 into a unitary combination which oscillates, onmanual operation of the handle 57, from the discharging position of theprimary. hopper 50 and the measuring unit 14, as shown in Figure 8, tothe discharging position of the secondary hopper 49 and the chargingposition of the measuring unit 14, as shown in Figure 6.

It will be seen that in the operation of my powder measuring dispenserthe contacting surfaces of the various parts rotate and act as valves toallow or stop the vertical flow of the powder by the superimposedregistration of the various ports, measuring chambers and hopper. Inparticular it will be evident that the secondary hopper or intermediatecharging chamber is filled with substantially the same quantity ofmaterial in each cycle of operations and this results in substantiallythe Same weight of charging load each time and that when the secondaryhopper -or intermediate charging chamber due to the rotation of powdermeasuring area 31 is in the position opening into the powder measuringarea 31 this substantially uniform and similarly weighted charging loadinsures during each cycle of operations the depositions of thesubstantially same precise quantity of powdered material in themeasuring area 31.

In the actual operation of my device the primary hopper is first filledwith the powdered material and the handle i turned as far as possibleclockwise (see Fig. 7) to fill the secondary hopper or intermediatecharging chamber and then the handle is turned as far as possiblecounterclockwise (see Fig. 5) to fill the volumetric measuring volume.When the handle is again turned to the limit in the clockwise directionthe powdered material in the measuring volume is discharged into thecartridge held in the centering port below the discharge chamber whileat the same time the intermediate charging chamber is being refilledfrom the primary material hopperv This sequence of operations iscontinued until all material is used or suflicient cartridges have beenfilled.

It will be understood that while the form of my powdered measuringdispenser herein illustrated and described is to be considered as apreferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions as disclosed, but reserve the right to resort toand substitute various modifications and changes in shape, size andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my inventionor the scope of my claims as described and indicated above and in thedrawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A powder dispenser comprising; a stationary base; a discharge chamberformed in said stationary base; a cartridge centering port provided insaid discharge chamber; a micrometer reading measuring unit rotatablysecured above said stationary base; a vertical slot provided in saidmeasuring unit; a movable U-shaped volume adjusting valve slidablysecured in said vertical slot; a rotatable micrometer knob attached tosaid measuring unit; said micrometer knob provided with indices wherebythe degree of volume adjustment imparted by said movable U-shaped valveis calibrated; a secondary charging block secured above said measuringunit and attached to said stationary base; an intermediate powder hopperformed in said secondary charging block; a hopper retainer rotatablysecured above said secondary charging block and attached to saidadjustable micrometer reading measuring unit; a powder storage hopperreleasably fastened in said hopper retainer; a tubular housing rotatablyattached to said stationary base; said tubular housing unitarilyassembled to said rotatable micrometer reading measuring unit and saidrotatable hopper retainer and said powder storage hopper releasablyfastened therein; a handle attached to said unitarily assembled tubularhousing whereby a measured quantity of powder from said powder storagehopper is discharged through said cartridge centering port.

2. A powder measuring dispenser comprising: a stationary base having adownwardly directed discharge port formed therein; a movable blocksuper-posed upon said base and having therein a measuring chambercommunicating with the upper and lower faces of said block; means forselectively adjusting the volume of said chamber; a stationary chargingblock superposed upon said movable block having formed therein acharging chamber communicating with the upper and lower faces of thecharging block and having a volume greater than the maximum volume ofthe measuring chamber; movable feed plate superposed on said stationaryblock having a passageway extending therethrough; a supply hoppersuperposed upon said feed plate; and means for moving said movable blockand feed plate in unison between a charging position wherein said feedplate blocks downward flow of fiowable material from the hopper to thecharging chamber, the measuring chamber is aligned beneath the chargingchamber and the base closes the lower end of the measuring chamber and adischarging position wherein the measuring chamber is in communicationwith References Cited in the file of this patent said discharge port andout of communication with the UNITED STATES PATENTS upper of i chargmg i2,426,898 ald n Sept, 2, 1947 3. The invention as stated in claim 2whereln sald mov- 2 657 832 Rose Nov 3 1953 ble block and feed plate arerotatable relative to the 5 I base and charging block and includingmeans limiting FOREIGN PATENTS rotational movement of the movable blockand feed plate. 729,881 France May 3, 1932

